Minnesota Campaign Finance Board to Conduct Second Formal Investigation into State Rep. Ilhan Omar's Campaign Committee

State Representative Ilhan Omar’s campaign committee is now facing a second formal investigation regarding misuse of her campaign contributions.

State Representative Steve Drazkowski (R-Mazeppa) said he was notified by the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board (CFB) last week that it found probable cause exists and that another investigation has been ordered.

“I’m pleased the Campaign Finance Board is taking Representative Omar’s blatant misuse of taxpayer resources seriously,” Drazkowski said. “Omar doesn’t get to pick and choose the rules she wants to follow, yet it appears that’s exactly what she’s been doing for the past two years.”

The latest CFB investigation into Omar’s financial misdeeds centers on airline expenses for a trip to Massachusetts so Omar could speak at a rally on behalf of Boston City Council candidate Deego Jibril.

According to the CFB’s probable cause determination, Omar’s “out of state travel may not have been to events that would have helped a candidate in the performance of state legislative duties.”

Her 2017 year-end report also showed an expense for airline tickets for an international trip to Estonia. In all, Omar spent more than $3,000 in travel-related disbursements.

A formal CFB investigation into the Omar committee’s use of campaign money to pay legal fees to her divorce attorney also remains ongoing. According to statements made to the CFB by attorney Carla Kjellberg, Omar's payment to Kjellberg’s law office was reimbursed for services that the Kjellberg firm initially paid for on behalf of the Omar Committee, which would be a violation of state law. Additionally, it appears that the reimbursed expenses may have been related to tax preparation and legal expenses related to immigration.